BBC Radio 1 DJ Greg James and former newsreader Chris Smith have apologised for causing offence with an insensitive comment about a glass eye in a video promoting their new children’s book. Smith said a glass eye would make the characters, inspired by Roald Dahl’s The Twits, “more revolting”. The remark sparked criticism for a “negative representation” of disability. James and Smith have co-authored The Twits Next Door, which is part of a new series commissioned by the Roald Dahl Story Company.
In response to the outcry, James posted on Twitter that it was “absolutely not our intention” to cause offence “and we apologise unreservedly”. He added that with the glass eye comment, “we were attempting to pay homage to one of the Twit’s most famous pranks involving a glass of beer in order to remind people of Dahl’s infamous terrible two”. However, he admitted that it was an “error on our part” to describe the glass eye as disgusting.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People said that positive representation of disabilities in children’s books makes children with disabilities feel seen and heard, and their friends and classmates treat everyone the same. The sight loss charity encouraged James and Smith to “talk to us about encouraging acceptance and understanding of disabilities”. Meanwhile, disability charity Scope posted a video saying: “Greg and Chris, we know you can do better. The disabled community wants to help you get there”.
James and Smith were among a number of current authors who were announced as writing new stories based on classic Dahl books. Their novel sees a new family called the Lovelies move in next door to The Twits, prompting the Twits to hatch a plan to rid themselves of their new neighbours. The Twits Next Door will be published in August. The move follows Netflix’s purchase of the rights to Dahl’s children’s books in 2021. The streaming giant now owns the Roald Dahl Story Company
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More